Galesburg Register-Mail from Galesburg, Illinois · Page 3

Gotesburg Register-Mail, Gofesburg, III. V^ednesdoy, May 9, 1$73 3 State Corn Crop Success Hinges on Next 2 Weeks By United Press International The weather in the next two weeks can make or break the Illinois corn crop, agricultural experts said today. "The next two weeks are the Important period for corn," said Richard Allen, assistant superintendent of the state agricultural statistics department. "If it stops raining now, we could possibly still have good crop yield." True to Pledges Allen said, however, that less than 5 per cent of. the expected state corn crop had been planted as of Monday because of the continuing soggy grounds. By May 10th last year, 23 per cent of the corn had been planted, and in 1971 farmers had 67 per cent of the crop in by that date. This year, more than 50 per cent of the land for corn and soybeans has yet to be plowed. Optimum planting time varies with location, but for the best yield, corn must be in the ground no later than May 10th or 15th. Corn planted after those dates generally results in a bushel less a day for each acre planted. Rather than take that loss, the experts said, many farmers turn to soybeans, which can be Oquawka Board Begins Cut Of Water Improvement Costs planted up to June 1 in most areas without a loss in yield. But the crop specialists said farmers would still be planting corn if they get favorable weather in the next week or two. "Give us two days of dry weather and sun and you'd see a lot of people back in the field again," said agronomist Derrald Mulvaney of the University of Illinois extension at DeKalb. "We have large machinery and we can plant rapidly once conditions are favorable. Farm* ers work around the clock during that period of planting." Under good conditions, Allen said, farmers can plant 2 to 3 per cent of the state's corn crop in a single day. Last year, Illinois farmers, second in the nation irt corn production, planted 9.44 million acres last year and produced 988.7 million bushels of corn. This year, the corn crop was expected to increase 5 per cent because farmers indicated they would devote 470,000 more acres to the crop. If the rain continues, how* ever, the experts predict a smaller crop, and higher prices could result. "Pricewise, it becomes a question of how fast we get the crop in," said economist Duane Erickson of the University of Illinois agriculture department. "The later the planting, the higher the chance of higher prices." OQUAWKA - True to their campaign pledges, members of the town board Tuesday night began whittling away at proposed expenditures on village water system improvements. In a 5-hour meeting with village engineer Sherman Smith, the newly - elected board members scrutinized parts of the original $580,000 package, keeping some and tossing others aside. "We're going to cut that (the proposed $580,000 costs) in half," board president Joe Colley remarked later, "get it down to where we can afford it." Colley and most of the new trustees elected last month were opposed to the original high costs of revamping the water system — a project favored by the majority of the former board. THE NEW board does not plan to scrap the entire project, "improvements are needed, of course," Trustee Steve Dunn said earlier. Colley said today that new Water meters, several water lines and a new pump house were among the items scratched from the plans. Calling it a matter of priorities, Colley said the cost of the project now stands at $320,000. There was some disagreement between Smith and the trustees as to what should be dropped and what should be left in the plans. "He wanted to leave some things in that we wanted out," the town president said. Colley was a dissident member of the former board that favored spending $580,000 on the project. That board had applied for a loan which was later approved by officers of the Farm and Home Administration. "The money is there waiting for them," an FHA official said last month. Colley said today he expected the board of trustees to reject that loan now, or at least ask for the lower amount. Prairie City's Federal Shares Ta Go for Streets, Recreation PRAIRIE CTT Y— Plans to use $1,845 in federal revenue sharing funds for street and sidewalk maintenance were made Tuesday night by Prairie City Village Board. Another $200 of the revenue sharing allotment will be used as payment for the village's participation in BushnelTs summer recreation program. Prairie City's revenue sharing fund allocation for the first six months of this year is $2,045. In other action (Ralph McFadden, board president, was sworn in for a 3-year term following last month's uncontested election. Others who were sworn in were George Sherman, David Phelps, and Warren Thurman, trustees, and Mrs. Dorothy Stoneking. All were re-elected to the board. The Farmers and Merchants State Bank, Bushnell, was designated as the depository for village funds. Gordon Hunt, Bushnell, was named the board's attorney. Meeting dates were set for the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. during Daylight Savings Time and at 7 p.m. during Central Standard Time. Plans-were also made to blacktop streets in the village. Charles Fowlks was employed as the new dogcatcher, filling a vacancy created when Elmer Braden left the job. Employes at Wayne Bros. Elevator, Oquawka, stand on a beach of corn, above, which resulted about 10 days ago when flood waters pounding against the storage shed caused the foundation of the structure to break open. An estimated 2,500 bushels of corn flowed under the edge of the wail into Oquawka Bins Burst Open the swollen Mississippi, piling up to a depth of 4-5 feet, according to elevator employes. A wooden bin, above left, used for soybean storage, also broke open during the flood, allowing more than 1,000 bushels of beans to be lost in the river. Charles Wayne, part owner of the grain elevator, said today he doubted any of the grain could be salvaged. The wooden structure containing soybeans, was constructed more than 30 years ago and will not be repaired, Wayne said. (Register- Mail photos by Dale Humphrey.) Flood May Continue Until June 1 By United Press International The Mississippi River, flooding its banks for the 59th straight day Tuesday, is expected to begin slowly receding this week but remain overflowed at least until June 1. The river broke previous flood records set in 1844 when it was at flood levels for 58 days. The U.S. Corps of Engineers said the river had been over the flood stage at St. Louis since March 10. gh burgs newest and finest mens store shirts to choose from. Super sportscpats ing and summer colors — and at a price you will over 2000 dress and jean. And remember Come in and look through Gales- W ^™ Jiiirnc novA/ocf nnri •£ i noc+- mane ctnro c 1 ROO Over 1500 in all the new ike. Great pants — we carry a stock of over 500 blue denim jeans at all times — waist sizes start at 27 — inseams to 36. Come in and look us over — You'll be glad you did. Remember Gals — We Can Fit You Too! WIN Be sure to register for two — 5 SPEED SCHWINN BICYCLES — to be given away. One for a guy and one for a gal. No purchase necessary. JAMES PATRICK Look For The Big Red & White Awning 335 Cherry St. Just off Main St. MENS WEAR * Downtown Golesburg Across From Home Savings The corps noted the river was not expected to go below flood levels until June. A spokesman noted this would exceed an 80-day flood recorded in a 432-year-old journal kept by the explorer DeSoto. At Memphis, Tenn., the Mississippi River was at its highest level since 1937 Tuesday, but the Corps said there was no danger of additional flooding. For Wiring The National Weather Service predicted the river would begin falling about one-tenth of a foot per day by Thursday. "It will be at least a month before the water goes down completely," it said. The river has flooded more than 300,000 acres of Tennessee farmland. It crested Monday night at 40.5 feet, six and a half feet above the 34-foot flood stage. Committee Urges Adoption of Code Galesburg Citizens Advisory Committee Tuesday night prepared three recommendations for the City Council concerning electrical wiring, Lake Storey fishing regulations and bicycle route hazards. The committee, acting without a quorum, will recommend adoption of the National Electric Code with two exceptions. ROBERT LEE, president of the group, summarized the consensus ibhat (1) property owners should be permitted to do their own work on their own property whether they live in it or not, and (2) material such as Romex should be permitted. Neither practice is approved under the national code. The fishing recommendation would impose a dollar fee on both resident and nonresident fishermen and limit THANK YOU We wish to Thank each and everyone involved in making our golden anniversary such a memorable occasion. We sincerely appreciated each, wish, card and gift. A special Thanks to our daughter June, and daughters-in-law Velda, Mary, and Shirley. Also to Barbara for the beautiful Bible cakes. Charlie & Zelda McCormick their daily catch to six largemouth bass no shorter than 13 inches, one northern pike no shorter than 30 inches and five channel catfish any size. Concerning bicycle routes, the committee will urge the city to check for such hazards as potholes and mark dangerous areas. Member George Stephenson, 708 N. Broad St., said his daughter had been injured when her bicycle wheel slipped into an uncovered gutter on North Broad Street near Park Lane. He said he had reported the hazard to the city engineer's office but that nothing had been done. MEMBERS Rollie Barley, See 'Committee'— (Continued on Page 11) Who Has The Most BLOUSES LESLIE'S Yea! LESLIE'S ROGERS SHOES 230 E. MAIN